Nottingham Forest have signed New Zealand striker Chris Wood from fellow Premier League club Newcastle United on loan for the rest of the English Premier League season, with an option to make the transfer permanent until the summer of 2024, they said on Friday.
New Zealand All Whites striker Chris Wood ahead of the game against Australia in Brisbane, 2022. Photo: PHOTOSPORT
Wood scored twice in 18 games this season for Newcastle, who are fourth in the Premier League on 38 points after 19 games. Promoted club Forest are 13th on 20 points.
"You can see the transition (at Forest) over the past 18 months and it's progressing in the right way. It's a project that's going in the right direction," said Wood, who has scored 33 goals in 70 games for New Zealand.
Wood scored 53 times in 165 appearances for Burnley before moving to Newcastle just over a year ago for a reported 25 million pounds.
He has netted five times in 39 games for Newcastle.
There were a flurry of notable EPL signings elsewhere.
Leaders Arsenal announced the arrival of versatile Belgium international winger Leandro Trossard on a long-term contract from Brighton & Hove Albion.
They hoped the 28-year-old, who was in the Belgium squad at last year's World Cup in Qatar and has made 24 appearances for his country, would be eligible for selection against third-placed Manchester United on Sunday.
Trossard has scored seven goals in 16 league appearances this season, including a hat-trick against Liverpool at Anfield in October.
Media reports said the deal was for four and a half years and would cost Arsenal 27 million pounds ($33.43 million) -- an initial 20 million expenditure plus add-ons.
"It is good work from everyone at the club to complete the signing of Leandro," said Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta.
"He is a versatile player with high technical ability, intelligence and a great deal of experience in the Premier League and at international level.
"Leandro strengthens our squad as we head into the second part of the season and weG��re all looking forward to working with him."
Chelsea have signed winger Noni Madueke from PSV Eindhoven on a seven-and-a-half-year contract, with an option to extend for a further year, the Premier League club said on Friday.
The 20-year-old joined PSV's youth team on 2018 and made his debut with the senior team two years later. Since then, he scored 20 goals and provided 14 assists in 80 appearances.
Leicester City have signed defender Victor Kristiansen from Danish Superliga side FC Copenhagen, both clubs announced.
The 20-year-old Dane will join the Premier League side for an undisclosed fee, but British and Danish media reported it would be for about 17 million pounds.
Kristiansen signed a 5-1/2-year contract that will keep him at the King Power Stadium until the summer of 2028.
West Ham United have signed striker Danny Ings from Aston Villa on a deal until 2025, the Premier League club said on Friday as they look to fix their goalscoring problems.
The Hammers are third-bottom on 15 points, a point and a place below the safety zone, with 15 goals in 19 games.
The 30-year-old Ings, who scored six goals in 18 league games for Villa this season, will add competition up front for West Ham alongside Gianluca Scamacca and Michail Antonio.
- Reuters